US charges 81 in Puerto Rico gang case as Trump cartel crackdown continues
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The US Department of Justice indicted 81 people over alleged drug and weapons violations tied to the Puerto Rican gang Los Baja Deo. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges on Thursday during a visit to Puerto Rico, a day after 70 defendants were arrested. The indictment alleges the gang distributed at least 340kg of fentanyl and 2,200kg of cocaine, generating more than $49m in proceeds.
Key Facts
- The US Department of Justice indicted 81 people over alleged drug and weapons violations tied to the Puerto Rican gang Los Baja Deo.
- Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges on Thursday during a visit to Puerto Rico, a day after 70 defendants were arrested.
- The indictment alleges LBD distributed at least 340kg of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics and at least 2,200kg of cocaine in the last five years.
- The operation generated more than $49m in proceeds, and the Justice Department is seeking to seize $49.7m in assets.
- Defendants facing drug-related charges alone face at least 10 years in prison, while those accused of both drug and firearms charges could face a minimum of 15 years.
The Indictment
The indictment alleges that, starting in 2021, members of LBD began distributing drugs in and around public housing projects and neighbourhoods in Mayaguez, a city in western Puerto Rico. They are also accused of using the US Postal Service to send drugs from the island, which is a US territory. Among the substances allegedly trafficked were heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana. The indictment also accuses members of using violence, like murders and kidnappings, to protect their drug-trafficking conspiracy.
Law Enforcement Response
Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement, "Let this be a warning to those that are terrorizing our communities." FBI Director Kash Patel praised law enforcement work in the case as "outstanding" and touted the large-scale arrests as a blow to drug trafficking into the US mainland. The mass indictment arrives as part of an effort under US President Donald Trump to weaken and dismantle criminal organisations across the Western Hemisphere.
Penalties and Asset Seizure
The defendants facing drug-related charges alone face the possibility of at least 10 years in prison. Those accused of both drug and firearms charges could face a minimum of 15 years. The maximum penalty in both cases is life imprisonment, if the defendants are convicted. The Justice Department also said it is seeking to seize $49.7m in assets as part of the criminal case.
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US charges 81 in Puerto Rico gang case as Trump cartel crackdown continues
